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News Releases
March 12, 1999
FLORENCE BIRD MEMORIAL LIBRARY OPENS AT STATUS OF WOMEN CANADA
OTTAWA -- The Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), today officially opened the new Florence Bird Memorial Library, located at the offices of Status of Women Canada in Ottawa. The Library will be one of the most complete repositories of resource material on women, gender equality and gender-based analysis.
"Status of Women Canada has created a reference centre where researchers, academics and students alike will find resource material to help them in their work," said Dr. Fry, officiating at the opening, which included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque. "It is a fitting tribute to this great woman that we name this library in her honour," Dr. Fry continued. "Through her work, Senator Bird increased the awareness of Canadians concerning the prejudices and barriers which keep women from participating fully in all aspects of our society."
Senator Bird was head of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, whose landmark 1970 report established the first benchmarks of equality for Canadian women and led to the creation of Status of Women Canada, the federal department dedicated to the pursuit of women's equality. Senator Bird died in Ottawa in July 1998, at the age of 90.
The Florence Bird Memorial Library features over 20,000 monographs and publications pertaining to women's issues, as well as government documents, international publications, and independently produced reports and surveys. The Library plans to continue building its resources on gender equality. The Library, which is located on the 5th floor of 350 Albert Street in Ottawa, will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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